HBSE 10th Class Social Science Notes Geography Chapter 2 Forest and Wildlife Resources

Haryana State Board HBSE 10th Class Social Science Notes Geography Chapter 2 Forest and Wildlife Resources Notes

Haryana Board 10th Class Social Science Notes Geography Chapter 2 Forest and Wildlife Resources

  • We share this planet (Earth) with millions of other living beings.
  • This entire habitat, where we live in has immense bio-diversity.
  • Humans, along with all living organisms, form a complex web of ecological system. Flora and Fauna in India
  • Forests play a key role in the ecological system, as these are also the primary producers on which all the other living beings depend.
  • India is one of the world’s richest countries in terms of its vast array of biological diversity and has nearly 8 per cent of the total number of species in the world (approximately 1.6 million).
  • It is estimated that at least 10 per cent of India’s recorded wild flora, and 20 per cent of its mammals, are on the threatened list.
  • Among the larger animals in India, 79 species of mammals, 44 of birds, 15 of reptiles, and 3 of amphibians are threatened. Nearly 1,500 plant species are considered endangered.
  • The forest and tree cover in the country is estimated as 79.42 million hectare, which is 24.16 per cent of the total geographical area.

Notes Of Forest And Wildlife Resources HBSE 10th Class

HBSE 10th Class Social Science Notes Geography Chapter 2 Forest and Wildlife Resources

→ Types of Species

  • The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) classifies the existing plants and animal species into the following categories:
    (i) Normal Species
    (ii) Endangered Species
    (iii) Vulnerable Species
    (iv) Rare Species
    (v) Endemic Species
    (vi) Extinct Species.
  • Cattle, Sal, Pine are normal species while Asiatic Cheetah, Pink head duck are extinct species.
  • The world’s fastest land mammal is the cheetah (.Acinonyx Jubantus). It is a unique and specialised member of the cat family.
  • The greatest damage inflicted on Indian forests was during the colonial period due to the expansion of the railways, agriculture, commercial and scientific forestry and mining activities.
  • Substantial parts of the tribal belts have been deforested by shifting cultivation (jhum), a type of ‘slash and burn’ agriculture.
  • The Himalayan Yew (Taxus Wallachiana) is a medicinal plant found in various parts of Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh.
  • This species is under great threat due to over-exploitation.
  • Habitat destruction, hunting, poaching, over-exploitation, environmental pollution, poisoning and forest fires are factors, which have led to the decline in India’s bio-diversity.
  • The destruction of forest and wildlife is not just a biological issue. The biological loss is strongly correclated with the loss of cultural diversity.

Forest And Wildlife Resources Notes HBSE 10th Class

HBSE 10th Class Social Science Notes Geography Chapter 2 Forest and Wildlife Resources

→ Conservation of Forest and Wildlife in India

  • The Indian Wildlife Protection Act was implemented in 1972, with various provisions for protecting habitats.
  • Tiger is the key wildlife species in the faunal world.
  • Trade of tiger skin and the use of their bones in traditional medicines, especially in the Asian continent, left the tiger population on the verge of extinction.
  • “Project Tiger” is one of the well-publicised wildlife campaigns in the world which was launched in 1973, to protect tigers.
  • Forests are classified into Reserved Forests, Protected Forests and Unclassed Forests.
  • Reserved and protected forests are also refered to as permanent forests.
  • Madhya Pradesh has the largest area under permanent forest while Haryana have smallest area under Permanent forest.

→ Community and Conservation

  • The inhabitants of five villages in Alwar district of Rajasthan have declared 1200 hectares of forests as the Bhairodev Dakav ‘Sonchuri’.
  • The famous Chipko Movement in the Himalayas has successfully resisted deforestation in several areas.
  • In India, Joint Forest Management (JFM) involves local communities in management and restoration of degraded forests.
  • The programme has been in existence formally since 1988, with Odisha passing the first resolution for Joint Forest Management.
  • Local communities should also be involved in decision-making for economic development

→ Important Terms

1. Habitat: Natural home of an organism.

2. Bio-diversity: Bio-diversity itself is a combination of two words, Bio (Life) and diversity (variety). It is the sum total of all the varieties of plants, animals and micro-organisms found within a specified geographical region.

3. Ecological System: The interactions of a particular group of organisms with abiotic factors within a particular habitat, resulting in clearly defined energy flows, and material cycles on land, water and air is called an ecological system.

4. Flora: Refers to the natural vegetation of a particular region.

5. Fauna: Refers to species of all animals living in a particular area.

6. Forest: An extensive area covered by trees.

7. Normal Species: Species having normal population levels for their existence are considered normal species.

8. Endangered Species: This includes those species which are in danger of extinction, such as blackbuck, crocodile, Indian rhino, Indian wild ass, sangai, lion-tailed macaque etc.

Class 10 Forest And Wildlife Resources Notes HBSE

HBSE 10th Class Social Science Notes Geography Chapter 2 Forest and Wildlife Resources

9. Vulnerable Species: This includes the species which are likely to be in danger of extinction in near future if the factors threatening their extinction continue to exist. Survival of these species is not assured, as their population has reduced greatly. Examples-Gangetic Dolphin, Blue Sheep and Asiatic Elephant etc.

10. Rare Species: The population of these species is very less in the world. They are confined to limited areas, or thinly scattered over a wider area. Examples: Himalayan Brown Bear, Asiatic Wild Buffalo and Hornbill etc.

11. Endemic Species: Species which are only found in some particular areas usually isolated by natural or geographical boundaries. Examples-Andaman Teal, Andaman Wild Pig, Nicobar Pigeon, Arunachali Mithun, etc.

12. Extinct Species: Species which are not found even after conducting searches in the areas where they are likely to be found. Examples-Pink Head Duck, Asiatic cheetah, etc.

13 Mangrove: A tree that stands on roots which are above the ground.

14. Shifting Cultivation (Jhum): A method of farming in which a patch of ground is cultivated for a period of few years until the soil is partly exhausted or over-run by weeds, and after which the land is left for growth of natural vegetation, while cultivation is carried on elsewhere. In due course, the original patch of land is cultivated again when the natural growth has restored fertility. Shifting cultivation is thus, also called slash and burn agriculture or Jumping.

15. National Park: A National Park is an area which is strictly reserved for the protection of wildlife and where activities such as forestry, grazing or cultivation are not allowed.

16. Wildlife Sanctuary: A wildlife sanctuary is an area, which is reserved for the conservation of animals only and operations such as harvesting of timber, collection of minor forest products, etc. are allowed so long as they do not affect the animals adversely.

17. Poaching: An illegal activity of hunting animals for their skin or horns for economic benefits.

Forest And Wildlife Resources Class 10 Notes HBSE

HBSE 10th Class Social Science Notes Geography Chapter 2 Forest and Wildlife Resources

18. Reserved Forest: As area, notified under the provisions of Indian Forest Act or the State Forest Acts, having full degree of protection. In Reserved Forests, all activities are prohibited unless permitted.

19. Protected Forest: A11 area» notified under the provisions of Indian Forest Act or the State Forest Acts, having a limited degree of protection. In protected forests, all activities are permitted unless prohibited.

20. Unclassed Forest: These are other forests and wastelands belonging to both, government and private individuals, and communities.

21. Chipko Movement: An organised resistance to the destruction of forests spread throughout India.

22. Deforestation: The process of destroying forests on a large scale.

23. Afforestation: The process of planting a large number of trees on bare land.

24. Beej Bachao Andolan: A movement launched by farmers in Tehri (Uttarakhand) against use of chemical fertilizers in foodgrain production.

25. Joint Forest Management (JFM): This programme has been in formal existence since 1988 when the state of Odisha passed the first resolution for Joint Forest Management. This programme involves local communities in the management and restoration of degraded forests.

26. Waste Land: Land which is not fit for cultivation.

27. Environment: Surroundings or the condition under which a person or thing exists and develops his/her or its character. It covers both physical and cultural elements.

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